Czech President Milos Zeman has been released from hospital after more than six weeks, the Central Military Hospital in Prague (UVN) announced today.
Zeman, 77, was admitted to hospital on October 10 with complications of a chronic illness, which his office never clarified but which, according to doctors, is a liver disease.
The president was hospitalized a day after the parliamentary elections in which Zeman’s allies, led by Prime Minister Andrei Babis, lost to a center-right coalition and the president’s leverage in parliament was undermined.
Zeman was initially admitted to an intensive care unit and doctors said the prognosis for his condition was uncertain. Parliament was preparing to discuss the revocation of his presidency, but after several weeks, Zeman’s health improved.
He said he would respect the election result and that he would appoint center-right leader Petr Fiala as prime minister tomorrow, followed by the appointment of a cabinet.
According to the hospital, the president decided to continue treatment at the presidential residence in Lani, west of Prague, despite the hospital’s recommendations to remain hospitalized.
The hospital said Zeman, his family and close associates had been informed of the possible risks and complications and that he had been referred to a specialist medical unit. He said, however, that there had been a “significant improvement” in Zeman’s health and that he respected his decision to “prioritize the performance of his constitutional duties”.
Prior to his hospitalization, Zeman had sought to improve relations with Russia and China, but relations with Moscow escalated into an espionage dispute with Beijing over the failure of investment plans.
The incoming government intends to strengthen the country’s western orientation and strengthen relations with democracies, including Taiwan, which China considers its territory.
Zeman still has 15 months to complete his second and final five-year term.
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